Saturday, November 24, 2012

This is a very preliminary iteration, trying to get the blob tracking / human recognition with a kinect lined up with a dancer in a projection space. If we can get it working, that'll open up a huge gateway to everything interactive. Processing.. Unity... UDK... have I got your attention yet?

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

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Stick (get that stick... get it!)
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1: Stick comes in overhand: Xblock, right hand forward. Bring down to left side of body, grab with the left hand. Grab the stick and twist out of their grip with your right hand. Come around their body, pivoting 180, and hit them in the face. Pivot back 180, and hit them in the floating ribs. Bring the stick around your grip, under their chin, place your right foot behind their leg, and then drive them down to the ground with the stick in their throat.

2: Stick comes in overhand: X-block, left hand forward, monkeygrab with right hand. Bring down to left side. Get the stick out of their hand with left hand. In defensive knife grip, bring it across their face with a 180 pivot, and back again across their face with 180 pivot. Side kick to leg or stomach. Step backwards 360, and drive the stick into the pressure point just under their elbow, bring them to the ground.

3: Stick comes in on the left side at a swing: Block with left hand and punch simultaneously. Continue that momentum to push the stick in a downward motion. Get it behind their kneecaps, and if you can, pull their legs out from them while pushing your shoulder above the knees.

4: Stick comes in on right side at a swing: Block arm at shoulder and wrist. Slide left hand (shoulder) to the hand and perform a wrist pattern onto your shoulder. Put your forearm 2/3 of the way up the trapped arm, and squat.

5: Stick comes in from left side: Block, step in, palm heel strike under the chin and up- continue driving forward until they fall. Get stick.

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Baseball bat
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1: Batter up: Before they complete the first swing, double block. Step in and grab the bat with both hands. Hip check them as you do a 180, breaking the grip. Take another 180 step, attack the kneecaps.

2: Batter up: They swing at you once and you miss. The momentum carries it around their head. Block their arm with right hand, trapping them from bringing it forward, and grab the bat with your left hand. The bat is now behind their head trapped against their neck. Walk backwards, crushing their neck between the bat and your shoulder.

3: Batter up: You block before they get the shot off with both arms. Elbow them in the floating ribs, continue the turn and judo flip them. (I think? Unsure on this one.)

4: They try to butt it into your stomach: Step to the side and grab it, side kick them in the leg or stomach.

5: They try to butt it into your stomach: Step to the side and grab as you do a front snap kick to their leading arm. Jump kick to a side leg or stomach kick.

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Gun
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1: Gun is point blank your heart: Step to the side and push/monkey grab their wrist with your left hand. At the same time, lean over and gouge out their eyes with your right hand. Slide your grip down their arm and when you get to their wrist, grab it, replacing the arms. Do a 180, trapping their hand under your arm in a chicken wing. Grab their wrist with your left hand and palm heel strike the gun out of their grip sideways with your right. Follow through by hitting them in the temple with the butt of the gun.

2: Gun is point blank your heart: Step to the side and block/grab with your left hand at the wrist, stepping backwards, and trapping it under the left chicken wing. Palm heel strike it out with your right hand, strike the temple.

3: They are patting you down and pointing the gun at your legs: Slap their wrist with your right hand, hit and grab the gun sideways with your left. Kick them in the groin.

4: Pat the gun out of your face with your right hand (this time your on their inside guard, for once) Immediately wrap your left hand around their wrist, with your fingers facing outwards. I forget what came after that.

5: Pointed at your back: Turn, knocking it away from your body with your right arm. Continue the circle and chicken wing the arm with your left arm. Palm heel strike it out.

Eddy kicked ass! That punk has 2 weeks of his internship left, and he finally decided to come to class with me.

Most guys come with a very full cup... they are the youtube masters. Damn dawwwwwg, yeah I know this stuff, I grew up street fightin and shit. I've seen so many attitudes quit after a week.

Eddy was quiet, observant, and focused on form. He improved faster than a ton of other thistles that blow through. When he first started kicking, he was fairly sloppy. In ten or so minutes of practice, he got to this point, which would have really hurt without pads. I'm very proud of him, sad to see him leaving, and excited to see what he does with his life. Safe travels.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Went over some take downs yesterday, and grappling today. My knees are very bruised from the pre-workout... I got to carry a 175 lb guy all over the floor. On the plus side, he was a bubbling fountain of teenage giddiness, which is hilariously awesome.

Take Down 1: Drop to knees, push your inner forearm bone just below opponent's kneecap, and grab their ankle with your outside arm. Pull and push.

Take Down 2: Drop to knees. Mount shoulder under opponent's kneecap, monkeygrip behind their ankle. Pull and push.

Take Down 3: Almost 90 degree bend, ram their stomach with your shoulder. Forward arm goes around the waist (if you're being gentile, not if you want to hurt them) rear arm grabs their leg (like you're doing the tango). Sweep foot between their legs, and kick out behind them, driving them to the ground. The harder you kick out, the harder they fall.

Take Down 3B: After you get them into the tango position, pivot 180, and judo throw them over your hip.

Take Down 4: Headbutt into their stomach area to get under the arm. Loop both arms under their arms, monkey grab behind the back. Pull while looking up so as to straighten their spine, and then wrap your outside leg around their legs and then backwards and through (like you're threading a needle). Step backwards like you're kick-starting a motorcycle. Drive to ground.

Take Down 5: Shoot into their front leg, brace your head against their side while keeping your head up and your spine strait. One hand around each knee, sweep their legs out from under them sideways, so that they fall into a good position for side mount.

Take down application: Once you put them down (say from 3) you have their right leg under your arm. Step your left leg in front of their right, and lay down backwards. Put your fist into a triangle position, and drive your knuckles into the bottom of their calf muscle, halfway up their shin bone. Trap their foot under your armpit, and lean backwards, putting the pressure on from in an ankle-bar.

Friday, July 13, 2012

I feel like I haven't posted here in ages. The truth is, I've been keeping up with training just as much as always, I just don't usually have pretty pictures to post, so it doesn't ever seem worth it.

Well, in lieu of anything relevant, here's something awesome

Lately I've been trying to do kickboxing as everyday as I can, but going to kaju on monday and wednesday is the most important thing. I kept missing on the days when they go over material, and I actually needed reminding last week... freaking embarrassing. -_-;;; Thought I would write down everything we went over, so that doesn't ever... happen... again. I keep telling myself I'm going to make a comic book of the drills, but somehow I just end up studying instead. Thanks, obsessive compulsive learning disorder. Ok, it's not a disorder, I just like it too much. Ok, I have a problem, I admit it. Whatever.

Punch Combo 1: (starts with opponent punch) left hand blocks close to face, right hand hooks around to punch bicep while doing a front kick. Push their caught arm into their chest, kick out their supporting front leg, punch to whatever area is vulnerable.

Punch Combo 2: (starts with opponent punch) right hand hooks around wrist, left forearm hits just under elbow. Make sure arm is rotated so bone is on pressure point. Step right foot back and pivot 180, controlling their body and driving them to the ground, putting pressure on the elbow.

Punch Combo 4: (starts with opponent punch) same start as 2, right hand hooks around wrist, left forearm hits just below elbow at pressure point. Left leg step into opponent, driving right hand hook through the body. Use left hand grip to push arm down as you do a rolling backhand to the face. Grab neck and right leg side kick to stomach, flip them to the ground in front of you. If you've managed to keep a grip on their arm, you're now in a good position for an arm break.

Grapple 1: (opponent rushes at legs) Half sprawl, hands together at wrist, palm facing head. Catch, grab hair or ears, turn their head 180 and flip them to the side.

Grapple 2: (opponent rushes at legs) Half sprawl, hands catch opponent's shoulders. Use momentum/weight to drive them to the ground. Grab hair, shirt, watev, and beat them into the ground a few times.

Grapple 3: (opponent grabs leg) Reach around their head and either grab their nose, using that to pull their head up, or grab their hair and expose the neck that way. Use the bone of your forearm and the momentum of the hair/nose pull to drive your forearm into the exposed line of their jaw. Flip towards the leg they are not grabbing.

Grapple 4: (opponent rushes legs) Catch their shoulders and do a half sprawl, then immediately drop all your weight onto the middle of their back as you drop your knees down next to their shoulders. Drive your left arm under the chicken wing space under their right arm, and pull it up. Use your right arm to grab their wrist and pull it up into an arm bar behind their back.

Front Grab 1: (opponent grabs your collar) Push their elbows up while doing a groin front kick. Monkey grab bottom of elbows and use your momentum to bring them forward, and off balance. Left arm up, right arm down, break grip by bringing right arm up and left arm down. With right arm now up, chop their neck with your forearm. Grab neck/shoulder, switch stance and kick out their right leg with your left, immediately place behind their right leg and flip over body.

Front Grab 2: (opponent grabs your collar) left arm grabs just under opponent's right wrist. Right arm slaps/ pushes their face as a distraction as you come around and grab their right hand with your right in a full circle. Wrist lock with right hand as you bring your left foot backwards, and pivot 180, pulling them off balance... bring left forearm just below their elbow at the pressure point and bring them down to the ground, dropping your weight into their ribcage with your knee.

Front Grab 3: (opponent grabs your collar) Clap hands together above the grab, and step backwards with right leg, cramping their arms together and bringing them forward. Wait for them to jerk backwards and then use that momentum to drive your fists into their face as you step forward into front stance. Continue the motion in a circle; break their hold with a right handed inside block and with the same arm backfist into the jaw. Continue motion with a left round kick, and a takedown.

Front Grab 4: (opponent grabs your collar) ... crap.... I can't remember all of this one. It starts where you use your left arm to cross over the grip and grab just below their left wrist, and your right hand comes under their grip to grab the meat between the bicep and the humerus of their right arm (so they're crossed) and then you bring your weight down on your right arm while applying pressure under the bicep so they fold and then you backhand them in the face with your left arm... but I can't remember what comes after that. I'll come back and edit if I remember.

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I'll skip one and two for the sake of time, three's the new one anyways.

Back Grab 3: (Opponent grabs your right shoulder with his/her left hand) with left hand grab their hand, trapping them there. Pivot slightly and hook your right hand around their forearm. Take a step with your right hand and pivot, pulling them forward and off balance. Bring your left hand around and closeline them in the throat in the opposite direction to their momentum, drive them to the ground.

Friday, June 15, 2012

I feel like the storm broke a little bit this week, well, yesterday really, but not in a good way. Well, i guess a good way, you know how sometimes you come to a realization about what's been bugging you but the realization isn't all good news? It's that sort of thing. My overall direction keeps solidifying though, which I really like. There's a ton of work in my future, but it's all work I want to do, and ultimately it's the kind of work that's going to "break the chains", if you will. Fun work is rarely ever hard work. Fun work that involves learning new skills and moves you towards your overall goal is the best kind...well ok, second to the kind of work you actually end up doing once you get to your goal and are...doing the work you set out to do in the first place. Something along those lines.

Sleep's for people who are BROKE -Fiddy

I am a little concerned with the way i'm feeling about training, i have this almost unnatural drive to be in the gym now, like my self-worth is tied up in my training. I know that's not healtyh, and I'm glad i can identify it, means i'm probably just being a drama queen, but you know, right now, i just...man, i just need to feel like i'm worth something somewhere, you know? Pathetic yeah, yeah i know, i am where i am of my own choosing...

Military Press: 55x5/65x5/75x5/75x5/85x5/95x13

Incline Bench: 95x5/105x5/115x4x5,1x8

Pendlay Row: 115x5/135x5/155x3x5/135x8

Bear Grip T-Bar Row: 100x5/105x5/115x5/120x5/125x8

Tricep Pushdown: 87.5x2x5/95x2x5/87.5x8

Lat Pull: 130x5/150x5/170x2x5/150x8

Push Press: 135 5x5

Eh i dunno...at the end of the day, whatever gets me into the gym. If I crash and burn, I crash and burn. Wouldn't be the first time.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

An almost proper day of training again, gotta admit I'm still not used to the bike though. Windy as fuck today and I rode a little extra trying to find some alternate routes, really surprised I made it as far as fast as i did. Eh, nah, it was a good bit of riding, but yeah...sleep. I'd like to be where I can get back to fight training next week even with the bike commute. It's been almost a month since I've had this thing. Haven't been good about riding it.

My smile is forced, but the effort is genuine

Life is weird right now. Really weird. I'd love just a little bit of normalcy right now, you know, just a bit. I shouldn't be whining, really, life could be so much worse. I just...man...i just wish it always wasn't just one little thing. But you know, i finally feel like i have real direction, like, for the first time in years i feel like i'm going somewhere. Starting over at the bottom, i'm trying to break onto a career path that's even more exclusive than tech art, but oddly enough, i'm not scared. This is one of the few times in my life that I think i can honestly say the effort and the journey are going to be worth the outcome, because even if the outcome isn't what i want it to be, i'm going to have learned so much and be armed with all kinds of tools, so really, the only way I can fail is if i don't work hard enough. Starting over is always potentially scary, but i've been here before. It's like when i started in games, i worked really hard and learned what i needed to learn. I can do it all over again. Personally, i got nothin but time.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Hey kids. I haven't posted in a while. Again. I'm good at that, just look at my actual blog.

Since last I posted, I competed in a real live NAS strongman competition. Proof of it lies here, and here:

It was a great experience, and I learned a LOT. For example:

Bring a canopy. It gets hot in the sun, and shade is good. I needed shade after the first event.

Speaking of the first event, a 290# sled is harder to drag than a 290# prowler. Gotta work on that.

I need more grip endurance

Nick Best, World Strongest Man competitor and finalist, was awesome, as was Zack McCarley, a lightweight pro, and even moreso his grandparents who helped me recover after the first event. The strongman community is amazingly supportive.

I am good at the log press.

I am better at atlas stones.

I hate trucks and ropes.

I spent the next week recovering from the comp as well as recovering from my bicep pain that flared up during the truck pull. I felt like a powerlifting meet piled into a truck and ran me over after the comp, but man it was fun.

After the recovery week, I trained a few times. My bicep felt iffy but heat and ice were doing the job. Some video of last week's training:

The next comp involves a chain yoke, so we built one and I tested it out. It's hard. Also messed with Axle Clean and Press, but couldn't move the weights I need for the next comp, so I researched the "strongman" way to do it. Turns out it's the "Continental" method. More on that later.

Day after this I did some cardio by way of sled dragging and tire flippin'- it was fun. No video, because sometimes you just gotta train with your lady.

The week got away from me, lots of stuff going on at work which has been a lot of fun but very time consuming, so I only trained once. Did some SSB squatting so as not to aggravate my bicep, plus some other stuff.

Today I figured on some event work. Was going to stick with lower body plus some light technique work. The plan was timed deadlifts, axle clean and press technique, chain yoke walk, atlas stone technique. Here's how it went:

The deadlifts went not so great- I wanted 10 reps, only got 6. I need to work on my grip endurance still...

Then it happened.

Remember the "Continental" method of the axle clean and press I mentioned earlier? I was trying that today. It was a method used for a long time before the more conventional clean became the standard for Olympic lifting, and is still used in strongman, especially with heavier weight. While my goal is to be able to do the conventional clean with the axle, the next comp requires a 175# (novice) or 225# (LW) axle clean and press, neither of which I can do conventionally with an axle. So I researched the technique and tried it out today.

It was going well till that bicep thing flared up on the 130#. I felt a pop... and I stopped for the day. I already had an appointment with an ortho for Monday (was supposed to be Thursday but I had a meeting go long so I rescheduled) for the biep thing, so I'll find out then what's going on.

For now, though, I wait. At least I had 3 pounds of ribs on the BBQ to console me.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

There are some things in this world that I've pretty much given up on. I'm not going to enumerate them here, if you want to know that, buy me several shots.

AM

A1. DB Bench: 65 5x5

A2. Hammer Curl: 30 5x5

B1. DB Flye: 25 3x10

B2. Incline Curl: 25 3x10

C1. Close Grip Pushup: 2x15

C2. Std Concentration Curl: 20 2x15

PM

Deadlift: 95x5/115x5/135x5/155x5/175x5/195x15

T-Bar Row: 105 4x5/1x8

Face Pull: 57.5x4x5/50x8

Uni Shoulder Press: 50x4x5/40x8

DB Row: 70 4x5/1x8

Clean: 105 5x5

I told myself when i started this blog i wouldn't post song lyrics because it's easy and i wanted this to be my thoughts, but right now, this is all i've got. I'm kinda emotionally drained, turned inside out, and hung out to dry right now. We build ourselves cages from the bones of our naivete.

Swimmers Can Drown - i:scintilla
My timeline is a wire wrapped tight around my neck
Slowing apathy swells, give in to disconnect
Unworldly transmission fed to relive the shame
I don’t want a trial, I’ll take all the blame
A stone stolid council Speaks dogmatically
Bullets and antidotes divided evenly
A chilling consciousness wakes me from the trance
It redefines my mind I’ll never have a chance

The blow shatters my remission
Fracture patterns show through the skin
Please understand this was not the plan
No, I gotta know
Does it matter where my heart has been
Fracture patterns show through my skin
Please understand this was not my plan
No, I gotta go

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Almost a full day of training today, ditched out on Crosspit just because I'm trying to pace myself a bit. Well that and I'm elbows deep in implementing Jos Stam's Real-Time Fluid Dynamics For Games. Anyone doing any sort of technical presentation (myself included), take note of this paper. He explains every step in terms that anyone with even a basic math background can understand (as proven by me) and gives you the code in the process. Man...i have been schooled in so many ways by this paper. Here's hoping my implementation ends up doing the thing i need it to do. Following in the good Dr. Stam's steps, I'll be putting as much of this project online as I can and hopefully be able to offer a simple, easy-to-follow explanation of anything special I end up doing.

Man, can you believe this river is all real-time? Thanks Jos Stam!

Honestly, i do feel a bit jank about not training tonight, but the combination of fasting and ramping up on workouts has definitely caught up to me, so tonight, we code and eat protein. I take solace in the fact that my work schedule has cleared up a bit and i'll be able to make good on this idea of regular training.AM

A1. DB Shoulder Press: 45 5x5

A2. DB Rev Curl: 20 5x5

B1. DB Lat Raise: 20 3x10

B2. DB Skull: 20 3x10

C1. Bent Flye: 15 2x15

C2. Rope Ext: 42.5 2x15

PM

Press: 65x5/75x5/85x10

Incline Bench: 95 4x5/1x8

EZ French: 55 4x5/1x8

Pendlay Row: 115 4x5/1x8

Pushdown: 87.5 4x5/1x8

Lat Pull: 130 4x5/110 1x8

Gah, not sure what else to say tonight, coding beckons...Tonight is definitely one of those nights where I can definitively say "Toniiiight! There Will BE...SLEEEEP!" Oddly enough, i'm almost too tired to thaw chicken...I say almost, because I'm actually about to go do this thing right now. Right now.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Proper day of training almost, only made it to one class at Tribull tonight but I'll try and hit up a few more tomorrow. Conditioning and kickboxing if the gods are friendly. Eh, forget the gods, I decide what I do, and today, I decide that I'm going to sleep well, train good tomorrow, and hit up a full session of Tribull madness.

Bear Mode: A specialized variant of Beast Mode, strictly for the hardcore.

Decided to take a slightly more measured approach to the weights today, meaning 5x10s are out for a bit, until my muscles are used to being back under the bar. Gotta say, i think last sunday i was also rolling off of bad sleep, because going to the gym today felt totally different. You know how dogs are when they know they're about to go for a walk? That's totally how I felt walking up to the gym today, i almost broke into a trot i must admit. It's a good feeling, the feeling that says "Time to go home". It's weird, I feel like i spent so much time working the last month that I had to let myself swing back the other way, taking a weekend and just vegging before i EQd back out and was ready to do normal life things. But i feel like I'm all cured now, so that's awesome.

AM:

Squat: 155x5/175x5/195x10

DB Incline Press: 50x5/60x5x3/60x8

OverheadX: 50x5x3/60x5/40x8

Seated Row: 130x5/140x5x3/130x8

EZ Curl: 60x5x4/60x8

Push Press: 115x5x4/115x8

PM:

A1. DB Decline Press: 55 5x5

A2. Hammer Curl: 30 5x5

B1. Decline Flye: 20 3x10

B2. DB Incline Curl: 20 3x10

C1. Chest Pull: 32.5x15/37.5x15

C2. Kneeling NG: 82.5x15/87.5x15

It's amazing what a different exercise curls are when you focus on certain aspects of techniques. I'm not entirely chasing the pump yet (i'll get there, just want to get form and some foundation back), but i'm trying to set myself up for good gains when I start moving real weight. The squeeze is crazy, nice to get a bit of a burn...

The stone hit so hard and I screamed so loud that a neighbor's dog freaked out and caused the neighbor to come make sure I was OK. Whoops... I need to buy crash pads for the stone, at least.

Today I am battling right bicep pain/overuse soreness. Ice, heat, Icy Hot and compression wrapping seems to help. I have a week to rest it. Probably won't train much this week, if anything it'll be warming up, mobility and recovery.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

I haven't logged any training on here in a couple of weeks. Not because I haven't been training, mostly because after training I have been too wiped out to do more than compile my videos and update my training excel sheet.

A few things that have happened over the past few weeks:

Finally found a strongman competition to do

Molded a few more Atlas stones (135#, 240#)

Was defeated by the 240# stone

Learned a new Log Press technique

Bought supplies for a Chain Yoke and a 2" Axle Bar

I trained a lot

Anyhow, I'm wondering if I should start making this a weekly digest. I guess we'll see. For now, here's my training, working sets only, with lots of video!

Saturday, April 28

A1. Deadlift for Time

7 x 350# in 40s

7 x 350# in 50s

This was before I had an axle and want to test what I could do in a minute.

B1. Max OH Axle Press

1 x 165#

1 x 195#

1 x 215#

0 x 230#

used Fat Gripz, so about a 2.5" grip. Real axle is 2".

C1. Pinch Grip Holds

30s x 35#

30s x 35#

30s x 35#

Video:

Tuesday, May 1

A1. Log Clean & Press w/Swiss Bar

1 x 115#

1 x 130#

1 x 140#

1 x 150#

0 x 160#

Used the older clean technique and couldn't get 160# cleaned up. Researched new technique that night.

B1. DB Bench

4 x 8 x 80#

C1. Pullups

4 x 6 x bw + medium band

D1. Blast Strap Ab Fallouts

4 x 10 x bw

E1. Farmer Holds

20s x 230#/hand

15s x 230#/hand

15s x 230#/hand

The 230# was a PR! Sweet.

No video on this one, I think I got home late and just wanted to train.

Thursday, May 3

A1. Log Clean & Press w/Swiss Bar

1 x 115#

1 x 135#

1 x 150#

1 x 165#

New "Squat Clean" technique worked great! Just need to work on it more.

B1. Snatch

3 x 3 x 105#

C1. SSB Box Squat w/ 2 20#Chains

4 x 6 x 255#

D1. Complexes (Front Squat, OH Press, GM)

3 x 95#

2 x 95#

1 x 95#

Video (Youtube won't let me direct link it due to some crummy licensing):

Used Fat Gripz. This session SUCKED. I was highly discouraged and contemplated backing out of the meet on May 19. Jess convinced me to go to Home Depot and get a real axle (with a 2" grip), so we did Monday.

B1. Sled Pull 50' up, 50' down

6 x 295#

C1. Atlas Stones

6 x 0 x 240#

New stone. It defeated me, but I will get it this weekend.Video of Stone Fails:

Monday, May 7

A1. Axle Deadlift

6 x 290# in 30s

4 x 315# in 30s, dropped #5

That's more like it. Not a great rep count, and some of the lockouts were questionable, but it was my first time doing these. Activated my biceps a bit too much so I need to work on that.

315# is the weight for the meet.

B1. 1-Arm DB Row

4 x 6 x 120# per hand

C1. Front Squat

3 x 8 x 185#

Video:

Wednesday, May 9

A1. Log Clean & Press w/Swiss Bar

1 x 115#

1 x 135#

1 x 155#

1 x 175#

0 x 200#

More work with the new technique. The 175# felt easy, so I went for 200# but failed. I think I can get 190# up.

The meet starts at 140#, so I think I am rrady for this event.

B1. SSB Squat w/ 2 20#Chains

3 x 2 x 315#

C1. Pullups

4 x 6 x bw + medium band

D1. Blast Strap Ab Fallouts

3 x 8 x bw

E1. Complexes (Front Squat, OH Press, GM)

3 x 95#

2 x 95#

1 x 95#

Video:

Overall, training for the competition is going well, knock on wood. I woke up this morning with some tightness and aching in my right bicep, so I cam going to take it easy till the weekend. Then I'll tackle the 240# stone, do some light medley work (yoke/sandbag/sled), and then take next week easy leading up to the competition on Saturday.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

I've been off the mats for a month and out from under the bar for too many more months and I've definitely suffered for it. If the folks I grapple with are to be believed, I haven't lost too much strength, but then, after moving to the bay, i wasn't starting from a particular high mark anyway, so i guess it would've been really hard for me to slide too far back, eh? I've definitely paid for it in the aesthetics department, i'm not sure i can remember the last time i was this fat and unattractive, but that's fixable.

You know, i'm the worst person in the world about throwing myself into work and training when life starts to get a bit suck on the personal side, but the sad realization I've come to after the last couple weeks is that...I don't think I'm that guy anymore, it just doesn't have the same numbing effect it used to. That may be a good sign though, yet another path on the road to growing up?? Arrghh!! Ah well...at least I can still console myself with the idea that no woman would ever want to have kids with me, so I'll only ever have to grow up so much anyway, hehe...

Your whining is incredibly undignified sir...if i can suck it up, so can you

I do love being able to live the simple life tho...At the end of the day, i have a great job, i'm living in a cool-ish part of the country, I can still train. I can still do all the things that matter, and for me, those aren't huge things, you know? I don't need to be rich, famous, dating a supermodel, whatever, just not bored with work and able to move around. So on with the training. Going to follow the 5/3/1 Boring But Big Challenge template, just because i feel like it's a good combination of alot of things I want to do and 5x10 of big lifts just sounds like good ol fashioned fun.

Squat A: 155x5/175x5/195x5

Squat B: 115 5x10

DB Incline: 45 3x8

Overhead X: 80 3x8

Seated Row: 120 3x8

Hammer Curl: 20 3x8

Funny thing was I only did my warmup set on squats then went straight to the 5x10, so i had to double back at the end of the set and do the actual 5/3/1 work set. It actually worked out better than i thought, but then, these aren't incredibly huge numbers...Sure felt like it tho! I'm going to start depleting too, so tonight is the last time i eat food for a while. Already my co-workers think i'm weird because I don't eat lunch that often...i guess that's just something i have to contend with, my diet is always going to be a subject of discussion amongst co-workers, hehe...

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Strongman Event day! The past few days, my left hand has been aching a lot and my grip strength has been affected by it, so I wasn't sure how today would go. Jessica wanted to train with me, so I was coaching her between my sets- she kicked some ass, too!

A1.Circus DB Clean & Press

2 x 8 x 10#

8 x 30#

5 x 40#

2 x 60#

2 x 1 x 70#

1 x 80#

1 x 90#

1 x 100# PR!

First time trying the elbow sleeves for these- they didn't seem to do much until I got up to 90#. I definitely felt them help at 100#, which was a PR! Being able to 2-hand the clean on the thicker grip helps a ton, as well.

B1. Swiss Bar Log Clean & Press

5 x 55#

4 x 65#

2 x 85#

1 x 95#

2 x 1 x 105#

2 x 115#

1 x 135# I think this is a PR, too!

0 x 155# No gas left, methinks. I need to get to 180#...

I think after the Circus DB and this, I will skip my ME Upper this week :) I wanted to get them both in since one of the comps I am thinking of doing has a Clean & Press medley with Circus DB, Axle, Keg and Log. I think the 135# is either a PR or matches my PR.

C1. Farmer Walk

80 feet x 205#/hand in 19.3s - PR! Gotta get faster though.

50 feet x 205#/hand. Dropped twice, couldn't finish

30 feet x 125#/hand - unloaded from the previous walk to the weight Jessica was using and walked them back to the start.

160 feet x 125#/hand - walked back up to the house to put them away

The first set was a PR! Nice. The walk back didn't go so great- my left hand pain finally caught up to me, and after the second drop I couldn't re-grip. The other sets are not on video- the last one was me walking the handles back up the hill to the house.

Overall it was a good day, and I didn't have to use my AK... Though I do have to go to QFC later, so it could still happen :)

Saturday, April 21, 2012

It's really amazing how important exercise is... it really puts everything in perspective... which is IMPORTANT! Nothing matters when you're hanging off a 20 ft. drop by your fingertips. Which leads me into a CRAZY cool new climbing gym that just opened up in my neck of the woods.

I started climbing difficulty level 5-9, and over the next two hours, progressed until I was finally defeated by a 5-10 D. I'm really excited to try it next time when I'm a little less tired. Makes me realize how much I miss fabric dancing. I had just begun to fall in love when I had to leave, but despite the newness, hanging from a warehouse ceiling by ropes feels like the most natural thing in the world. I feel like good dance schools are as hard to find as good dojos.

Everytime I do a grappling class, it gives a bit more credence to the idea that strong people are just harder to kill than weak people, because honestly, I have no idea how else I make it through some of those grappling sessions. Seriously, if I ever get any semblance of technique back, I'll be a pretty decent grappler, altho I really need to get back under the bar at some point too. Tribull does offer kettlebell classes during the summer, maybe I'll hit those up. I dunno, i'll figure something out, right now my training is just random. Kinda lame, I know, but yeah...

Lots of 93% Guard training tonight and probably the most horrid double arm bar I could possibly imagine, it makes me happy to know that people are out there thinking things like that up. Look, i'm not a violent person, but I...yeah ok, I'm not gonna win that argument.

I do so love training, it's been a while since i've been a regular training martial arts practicioner and I'm happy about what's happening now. Not to fanboy too much, but Kaju is really the style i've been looking for and man I hope i can stick around and train for a bit. You don't get much closer to the source than Tribull...

Saturday, April 14, 2012

I started a new program today after taking the week off due to just flat out being too busy and carrying a lot of stress around. I figured, what better way to start a new program than to do some events and see where I stand! 2 hours, many neighbor inquiries and one mailman calling me crazy later, I am done.

A1. Circus DB Clean & Press Medley

2 x 8 x 20#

5 x 40#

2 x 60#

2 x 1 x 70#

2 x 1 x 80#

4 x 1 x 70#

I did 2 of these as an event, first the 2 x 1 x 70# and 2 x 1 x 80#, which was a terrible set, and then the 4 x 1 x 70#. These are really hard give that it's about a 3" grip to clean. I need to find out if I can use 2 hands to clean, otherwise I am in trouble for competition...

B1. Farmer Walk

2 x 80ft x 180#/hand

As I was setting up, multiple neighbors came to ask me what the hell I was doing, and the mailman stopped to call me crazy. Twice. Did the second run in 16 seconds- not bad. I think I could get 200# per hand next weekend.

C1. Wheeled Sled Drag

2 x 200ft x 360# (downhill, uphil)

I wasn't going to count this until Jessica saw me dragging the farmer handles and weights back up the hill, and she said I should. It was not fun, and it was hard work, so it counts dammit.

D1. 16" Atlas Stones

9 x 175# in 1:20

Meh. I wanted 10 in a minute. I think I'd have had it if I had cleaned the stone off- it was covered in sawdust. I've been building a bench in the garage and just forgot. On top of that, the battery died on rep 7. So for al you know, I could be lying about this rep PR :)

Video!

Unfortunately, it's become a problem that the stones scare the crap out of the dog. I need to devise a soft-landing pad for the stone that I can still roll it off of fast enough for reps. Or I need to build a platform wide enough for 5 stones... and then make 5 stones. I gotta get my 18" stone made soon.

Overall, it was a good training day. Food and wine are in the cards tonight.

Long time no post...I'm sorry for not being as active as I'd like here but well, a lot has happened in the last 6 weeks (however I have not missed a single workout)!!!

So back on Monday February 27th I made the 2 hour drive into work, worked a 6 hour day and then was called into the conference room by the studio art director. Sitting there was the HR director...well I've been told I have the most upbeat and positive attitude of anyone by numerous peoples, and I don't wantonly run around violating HR policies, this could mean only one thing. Separation. With THQ cancelling 3 of our projects it was deemed that the work we did have could get wrangled by our animation outsourcing director and the couple of outsourcing teams we use. I was sent home. Now I'm very grateful to Pipeworks Software, for not only believing in me to tackle a job that I didn't have enough industry experience for (they brought me in as an animation lead and my first project was art lead on uDraw: Instant Artist) but for also giving me a huge opportunity to contribute to the games industry and increase my skills as an artist and team collaborator. I will be forever thankful to the art team and leadership there.

So that meant it was time to start cracking on my reel, well from the discussions I've had it seems to be all too common that an animator who works in a smaller studio for a year and a half leaves with pretty much nothing but resume accomplishments to show for it. Having worked on eight titles plus being responsible for completely designing and rebuilding the internal animation library means that I definitely had a quantity over quality requirement to fill. Being the sole in house animator meant I was always extremely busy. So this led to not having anything concrete to put on my reel from the last year and a half of work I did...I'd definitely use pieces from the internal library I built but sadly I am not allowed to, nor do I have access to the scene files I did that with a little polish would be reel worth - so back to my own personal work!!!

For the first 3 weeks of my 'time off' I only left my computer to eat, sleep and go to the gym. Then the wife took a job to pick up my slack and I found myself being a full time chauffeur to my three beautiful daughter - they all have different school schedules, one has track twice a week, the other track everyday plus soccer twice a week and on weekends. Reel work gets interrupted a bit more now. :D

Three weeks ago was the last week of our drop set rotation - saw some good gains and actually did some flat bench pressing, first time in about a year, shoulders still a bit sore, but it doesn't hurt like it used to, however not going to push that exercise too much - BUT here's the kicker, I suffered my first real in gym injury.

On my second rep of said flat bench my finger got in the way of a meeting between a 60lb and 75lb dumbbell - I thought I had just smashed my finger...shook it out for a quick second and picked up the 50's to finish my set. When I was done, my wife asked where the blood was coming from. Hmmm blood, not much a couple spots on my hand, but more than this little cut under my nail...turn my hand over and I completely split the finger down into the dermis - didn't look to see if it went into the subq fat as I'm not all that strong of stomach when it comes to my own injuries. :D I hit the locker room washed it out best I could, hit the front desk for a first aid kit. They didn't have one. A 24HR fitness super sport with no first aid kit...found that odd. How bout an old towel and some duct tape than? Maintenance got me squared with that. So this is what I did to finish up my workout, after all this was only the first exercise, couldn't waste the day!

After pulling this off to properly clean and wrap it this is what it looked like:

It bled for about 4 hours - go go gadget gauze wrap!!! So the cut was about 5/8" long and again deep enough into the dermis to warrant continued urging from the wife to go get it stitched up. Well it's on a knuckle and without my studio position no benefits...so um...no, it can heal on it's own, I'll keep it clean and just wrap it twice a day. Looks pretty good now, almost completely healed and I can almost roll a complete fist with zero pain.

OK - enough of the long sob story (sorry guys and gals) on with the real CHANGE UP - went from 3 drops to 20's and 5's - this is a great way to get some growth. 2 set exercises, first set medium weight, medium speed 20 reps - second set, heavy weight, slow speed, 5 reps (sometimes I end up gauging too low and have to do 8 or even 12 if I didn't give myself enough credit OR the machine does not have enough weight on the stack).

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Summer break meant that class was empty, and it was alll for meee. Sifu nagged Antonio into joining so it wouldn't be a one person effort.

On a side note, a lot of balsamic vinaigrette and garlic makes for Mediterranean. A little bit with nuts makes it a subtle... "que?" of awesome.

{ 1 minute of bag, fists 1 minute of bag, kicks 1 minute of floor attacks on a bag 1 minute of 20 lb. medicine ball burpees, (that's stand up, hold it over your head, drop to the ground, do a push up) except when we stood up we had to throw it to sifu and then catch it. 1 minute of 35 lb ... I don't know what they're called. You squat, swing it between your legs, and then bring it up in the air as you stand up. 1 minute jump rope}x3

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Yesterday at 8 am, I arrived on the Golden Gate Bridge, with the intention of walking back home, to San Jose. The event was with my gym, Tribull, and it was a fundraising gig. Half the money to make a wish foundation, half to the school.

The coolest thing I saw was dolphins swimming under the bridge as I walked over it. The sky (as you can see) was still bathing everything in a pink morning sunrise. San Francisco is so beautiful and unique, I loved walking through it.

The way down was rough, but not bad. I got heat stroke, and a wicked sunburn. Seriously, apparently Tyler likes it when I make ugly faces, he'd love me now. I look like a red blowfish. (But then again, Tyler does like his jobs like he likes his women, butter-personality) We passed through one town which was NOTHING but funeral supplies, mortuaries, and graveyards. That was interesting... ::cough zombies cough::

Around 5 in the evening, everyone but Sifu and I dropped off and grabbed a ride home. I was INTENT on making it the whole way. Partially because I'm masochistic and like pushing myself, but mostly because I just didn't want to leave Sifu alone to walk the whole way. Only 5 people showed up? Come on, dissapoint!

I made it until about 11:30, before my foot started acting up. I broke my big toe about 3 weeks ago doing kicking drills on the bag. It's not a big deal, just a toe, but combine that with a day of walking and it started getting bad. By 1 am ish it was so bad that I was crying against my will in public. I told Sifu what was going on, and he told me that since it was getting worse, it would probably be best for me to take transportation home while there still was some, because I didn't want to go lame at 4 AM when all the bus lines were inactive. It was a fair point and I argued, but in the end agreed. Lame!!

Friday, April 6, 2012

Light work today, since I missed my stones workout this week and need to deadlift this weekend. We got 260# of bumper plates delivered this week (bringing the gym total up to 840#- I think we'll be good for a while!), so I broke a few of them in with some speedy snatches.

A1. Snatch

2 x 6 x 45#
3 x 65#
2 x 85#
4 x 2 x 95#

The third set of the 95#, aside from losing my balance, are probably the most efficient snatches I've ever done.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Tonight I was borderline not going to train due to still being wrecked from Saturday. Even Jess admitted later that she thought I was going to bail. But I didn't! Unfortunately, my camera battery was dead, so no video. Sorry to disappoint, ladies and gentlemen.

Not a bad session. I had to reset a few times on the 165# reps, which is why I wish I had the camera going to see what I did wrong. Jess tells me I couldn't get under the ones I missed fast enough. They all felt fast and explosive to that point, at least...

Overall a good session capped off my delicious pasta and buffalo/beef meatballs made by my lovely wife. She knows how I roll. Speaking of rolling, I have an 18" stone mold coming that will make me a 240# stone. That'll be something...

Monday, April 2, 2012

Coming back a little slow still after test, I think i'm having some distant cousing of DOMs, that is, I'm just now feeling my hits from Friday. I really have to get serious about this going to sleep before midnight thing, hell let's say before 11 even, because whatever I'm doing now, it's just not cutting it. Class tonight wasn't anywhere near hard, but I couldn't focus on even the simple stuff. I think I maybe snapped 1 in 8 punches decently, the rest of the time I might as well have been wiping sweat off the focus mitts.

My head is still swimming with ideas about how I want/need to change up my training, it's funny, who knows if I'll be around in 10 years to test for my black belt at Tribull (well, i'm going to try my damndest, that's for sure), but i'll be ready for sure. I'm not a big fan of running, but you know, I'm actually in good enough shape that short runs(<5 miles) don't kill me that much at all. Of course, trying to do a 5 mile run followed by a 600 and 2 hours of drills and sparring ehhh...it's sorta like that Klingon ritual that's pretty much drinking, fighting, and sharing war stories. Except you are the war story, and there's no drinking until you recover the next day...

...followed by at least a week in the hot tub, maybe more...

Going into another busy time at work, so I may have to cut classes back a bit, but I'm going to try and stay on top of it as much as possible. Maybe cut back to two-a-nights twice a week until this next milestone pass, which isn't too long, just two weeks. Still gives me time to get back into it in time for the fights, I think? Gotta say I'm still super nervous after my last sparring session, but i'm getting my practice in so that's good. I like how sparring is treated as a drill and everyone has to do it instead of just sitting around waiting for your turn to go in. You don't train to sit on the bench, yeah?

Warmup:

A1. Jumprope: 2x3min

A2. Shadowbox: 2x1min

Striking Combos:

L Jab, L Jab

L Jab, L Jab, R Cross

L Jab, R Cross, R Hook

L Weave, L Hook, R Cross, L Hook

R Weave, R Cross, L Hook, R Cross

Grappling:

Takedown defense

Hopefully I'll be more awake for full-on grappling Wednesday, that's the big gap in my game right now, and since the fight's probably going to be to submission or points, I need to make sure I can end it when it comes down to it...

Seth and I double tested for our second degree yellow last night. It was intense, I vomited afterwards. (Something I haven't done in a REALLY long time.) I wanted to die, but I think we made an ok show of it.

The black belt test... holy crap. He wasn't even legit testing for black, it was his second degree brown. I was going to spend my whole post ranting about it, but then I read Seth's post about not ruining it for you guys. Screw it, plan A.

Poor Gerald, that living machine. He ran 5 miles, did 70 squats, 70 situps, 70 pushups, helped with every testing up to his test, and then performed admirably. I won't go into details because I'm running late for an event, but suffice it to say, it was brutal, and at one point, involved all the adults in the class literally beating him up. His face looked like it had been through a meat grinder, and I wince to imagine the rest of it. I wanted to protect him, and I was so simultaneously proud.

Ok, running way late- doing a morning class, and then a glassblowing seminar... something I have wanted to learn my -entire- -life-. Excellent. Goddamn, but I love learning.

PS... those hand bruises are gone, and it's the next day. Apparently my wolverine healing power extend to the less commonly injured extremities... now I'm curious if my face heals this quick.

You know, so many martial arts allude to being useful, that is you think you're learning something that would get you through a fight until you actually have to try and use it against someone else who's trained, but any style where your test includes conditioning and drills is probably pretty serious. By the time I actually got to the curriculum part of testing, I was already winded, probably from the 5 minutes of straight pad drills we did before the test really started. And that's to say nothing of the black belt test, which...well...i won't spoil it for anyone, you'll just have to join a Kaju group and see for yourself.

It's been a while since I wore new colors in any style, i keep saying it, but it's good to be back at the bottom again, it's good to be looking up the road and just being open to whatever comes next. I think everyone needs a few opportunities like that every now and then, whether it's learning something new, moving somewhere new, etc...

"A person needs new experiences. They jar something deep inside, allowing you to grow. Without them, it sleeps- seldom to awaken. The sleeper must awaken."

C'mon...the path starts over here.

You know, seeing all the advanced belts test and feeling that pull to actually stay with a style for a bit and really get good at it just hammers home how much I'm done being the job. I'm tired of looking at my life in 2 year increments, but I wonder how realistic it is to NOT do that if I'm not working for myself at some point. If i've learned anything about my skillset, it's that there's definitely an expiration date on it at just about any company i'm going to work for, and if not that, then my patience. May I just need to suck it up for the greater good...Nah. Might as well suck on a bullet at that point...God knows my life is stagnant enough in some respects as it is.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Today was hands down the hardest cycle i've been through at Tribull since I started. Part of that I attribute to the absolutely shitty night I had last night, well, not shitty, just not good sleep, and the fact that we sparred. Man I haven't sparred in a long time, which was good because it makes me realize how much work I have to do before my fight. Thankfully the fights got pushed back to May, so maybe I can get myself to a point where I don't totally embarrass myself on the mats. Ah, who am I kidding, that's probably inevitable at this point, but nothing wrong with getting a good dose of humility...Like i did today in class.

I learned probably the most horrible thing in the world you can do with a medicine ball that won't make you have to register as sex offender in most states. Who the hell comes up with a thing called Medicine Ball Abdominal Burpees? I mean, that has to be some kind of criminal insanity, but man...ok I'm whining, yeah they suck, but i feel like it's the sort of thing I should be doing at least every other day...

...it was the superman punches...always the superman punches...

I need to watch many many videos of people boxing methinks. This is a completely alien style to me that I have absolutely no actual fight time in, so yeah, i'm a little behind the curve. Ok, alot behind the curve. Ok, you know what, I'm not even on the same street, there I said it.

Kickboxing:Warmup:

A1. Jumprope: 2x3min

A2. Gymjog: 2x2min

Main:

A1. L superman punch, R round kick: x1min

B1. R superman punch, L round kick: x1min

C1. superman punch, round kick, flying knee: x1min

B1. Sparring, jabs: x1min

B2. Sparring, jab, cross: x1min

B3. Sparring, jab, cross, hook: x1min

B4. Sparring, freestyle: x1min

Abs:

Freestyle: x2min

Crosspit:Warmup:

A1. Jumprope: 2x4min

A2. Shadow box: 2x1min

Main:

B1. Medball Ab Burpee: 4x1min

B2. Bag punch: 4x1min

B3. Bag kick: 4x1min

B4. Bench dip: 4x1min

B5. Landmine punches: 35 4x1min

Fun round:Negative BW Squats on Medball

C1. 10 in 1min

C2. 20 in 1min

C3. 30 in 1min

C4. 30 in 1min

C5. 20 in 1min

C6. 10 in 1min

Actually, i take it back, that negative squat pyramid was the worst thing ever. Trying to climb the stairs to my loft tonight was just not happening. I did horrible, horrible things to my legs today, but man, it's so fun. Figured out some new jumprope tricks too, i think I have way too much fun jumping rope. Ah well, what is training if not fun? Yeah...good game guys.